President Barack Obama praises Queen’s Young Leader Jerome Cowans

Apr22,2015

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The work of Queen’s Young Leader award winner Jerome Cowans has been recognised by President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Jamaica.

Jerome Cowans

Mr Obama singled out Jerome, to praise him for his work with Leaders Endeavouring for Adolescent Development (LEAD) which provides personal development opportunities for young people in Jamaica, so they will go on to better futures.

When Jerome was 12 years old one of his friends was killed in a violent incident. It was then that he decided he didn’t want his life to go down that route.

“So at the ripe old age of 13, he founded a youth group to help others like him stay on the right path,” Mr Obama said.

“And he started small, with only six people, but they had one big thing in common and they believed that change was possible.”

Giving a speech at the University of the West Indies, he praised Jerome for his work.

“He was threatened but he kept at it. And he said, ‘Things won’t get any better if no one does anything’. And today, the LEAD Youth Club he started has six chapters, including one in Colombia.

“His work has taken him to five continents. Last year, he became the first Jamaican to receive the Nelson Mandela Innovation Award. He’s just 25 years old.”

The six branches of LEAD are based in Jamaica and Colombia and are all run by volunteers.

Jerome, who will visit the UK in June to collect his award from The Queen, said being recognised by Mr Obama was a humbling experience. “I was blown away by it,” he said. “When he said my name and then asked ‘Where’s Jerome?’ I felt very humbled. It was amazing.”

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The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is a partnership between The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Comic Relief, The Royal Commonwealth Society and The University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education.

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